Sectional carrier for conveyers



Oct. 17, 1933. MEYER 1,930,621

SECTIONAL CARRIER FOR CONVEYERS Filed April 18, 1932 $6.12. 6. MeyerPatented Oct. 17, 1933 UNITED STATES ENT OFFICE 1,930,621 SECTIONAL,CARRIERBFOR ooNvE-YEns 'Job LJG. Meyer,':Seattle,'Wash. I 7 ApplicationApril 18, 1932. "Serial No.".605;999 7 Claims. (01.198-431) My inventionrelates to conveyers adapted to be used separately or as a part of anegg processing machine in the handling and conveying of eggs, andespecially in connection with the operation 7) of egg treatingprocesses. More particularly, the

invention relates to a sectional carrier-for con-" veyers of thischaracter adapted to support and convey eggs in upright positionwherever the conve-ying of eggs may be necessary or desirable. One

of the principal illustrative uses of my invention is in the conveyingof eggs through a bath or spray of oil or other liquid commonly used ineggprocessing. a

Among the objects of my invention is the promaximum quantity of the oilor other treating liquid to the eggs and speedy and efficient drainageof the liquid from the carrier or tray.

In the drawing,

Fig. l is a plan view of a portion of my sec- 9 tional carrier inventionapplied to conveyer chains, and

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the construction shown in Fig. 1.

My invention is capable of various modes of application and use. Forexample, sectional carriers in accordance with my invention may besecured to endless chains to form an endless conveyer arranged to passover the deck and between guide rails of a processing machine'oi anysuitable construction. Oil or other treating liquid may be supplied tothe machine from an elevated tank or reservoir, and the liquid orliquids used in the processing methods, after draining from thecarriers, may escape from the machine through any suitably disposeddrain outlets.

The conveyer chains or belts may be of any suitable construction anddriven by any suitable driving means.

The particular forms of processing machine, conveyerupporting means, andconveyer driving means constitute no part of my invention, and for thisreason are not shown in the drawing.

My invention is of general applicability, being capable of use inconnection with conveyers, not only for passing eggs through or under abath or "flow-of oil, but' also for" conveying eggs from'one point-"toanother irrespective of the presence-or absence of-oilor other treatingliquid.

Initsbroadest aspects'the'inventionis a section'al carrieror'flexible'tray made up of units in the "form of strips, bars,orxplates, "each secured at its ends to parallel "chains, "belts, or"other driven-conveyer elements.

Although:describedparticularly as "a carrier or conveyer for eggs, theinvention is capable of' use for other articles, 'and'particularly fruitof various kinds.

The individual 'carri'er units 9 may be made of any suitable" material,preferably of aluminum 7 or other'strong, lig'ht'met'al. Eachunitispreferably formed of a 'single'flat strip, plate, bar, .or piece ofmaterial, and 'given the configuration "shown in detail in'Fi'g.1,'characterized generally by a row of spaced projections 10 extendingouttral longitudinal bar 1 1.

Between each adjacent'pair of projections 10 on each side of barll thereis a generally semi-circular recess, the walls "of which conformsubwardly in'the' same plane fromeach side of 'a censtantiallyto arcs oracme-a 12, r3314, 15, but "arecut away between the arcuate 'porti'ons'toform-recesses16,1 7, 18.

When *assez'nbled, the units 9 are secured at each end, preferablyremovablybyscrew bolts"21, :to alternate links 20"ofc'hains{B, theintermediate links "forming a base or 'support for the unsecured edgesor overhangs'of-the units. "By virtue of this construction the carrieror'tray sections rest upon'alevel foundation and lie as flat'as if theywere combined in one'solid piece. This c0n- "Struction==also permits'free pivotalpr turning movement of the units with the narrower chainlinks over the sprockets at the respective ends of any endless conveyersupporting frame. Sufiicient clearance is provided between adjacentunits 9 to permit such turning movement with the chains to which theyare attached, and the adjacent edges of the units may be rounded forthis purpose, if desired. This flexibility of action is important, sincethe breaking of each individ- 5100 ual carrier section at the pointwhere the chain traverses the sprocket requires comparatively littlespace for turning around the sprockets. Solid or integral trays orcarriers require muchmore room for negotiating the turns and conseiquently much more expensive mechanism for maintaining the correct speedof the conveyer.

When assembled in operative juxtaposed relation with their ends securedto links of the conveyor chains, the recesses on each side of a unit orstrip 9 register with the similar and complementary recesses of theadjacent plate or plates to form generally circular egg pockets or seats30, in each of which an egg E may be supported in upright position upona preferably six-point suspension which is in the form of a circle andcomprises the arcuate walls 13 and 14 of each unit and the pairs ofarcuate walls 1212 and l515 brought together by the juxtaposition of theunits 9. I i

To insure proper and safe seating of the eggs in the pockets the arcuatewalls thereof are beveled or tapered downwardly, as at 31. This form ofseat not only enables the egg to be placed in the pocket quickly andaccurately, but provides for its secure retention in upright positionand prevents the breaking of the egg which would be liable to occur werethewalls of the pocket a complete uninterrupted circular opening in aplate with straight vertical walls.

The recesses 16, 17, and 18 intermediate the egg-suspension seats orpockets 30 provide not only increased opportunity for access oi oil orother treating liquid to the surface'of the egg and passage of theliquid over and around the egg, but increased facilities forrdrainage'of the liquid from the egg and from the upper surface of the units 9 aswell. For maximum rapidity and completeness of such drainage a series ofadditional openings 32 may beprovided in each unit 9 and the endopenings 34 formed by the complementary end recesses in adjacent units 9may also be used for drainage, especiallyif unsuitable for egg pocketsbecauseof theirv proximity to the conveyerchains, or for any otherreason.

The efficiency of the drainage resulting from the provision of thesedrainage recesses and openings isimportant and beneficial in that itobviates the carrying-over of any considerable amount .of oil or otherliquid to damage the paper separators customarily used to hold the eggsin standard cases. r

Iclaim: 1. In a carrier for eggs, a plurality of flat plates flexiblysecured together in parallel substantially abutting relation, saidplates having complementary recesses forming egg pockets within theborders of abutting plates and between their adjacent side edgeportions, said pockets having spaced arcuate egg engaging wall portionstapered downwardly and intermediate recesses in the walls of thepockets.

2. In a carrier for eggs, a pair of conveyer chains, a plurality ofplates each having a series of recesses in each side edge portion, saidplates having their ends secured to the chains and beadjacent stripsregistering to form egg pockets, the strips being secured at their endsto alternate links of the chains and supported by intermediate links.

4. In a carrier for eggs, a plurality of flat strips flexibly securedtogether in parallel adjacent relation, said strips having a centrallongitudinal bar portion and a series of spaced integral projections oneach side edge thereof forming generally semi-circular recesses betweenadjacent pairs of projections, the projections of adjacent stripsabutting and the recesses of adjacent strips registering to form acontinuous flat conveyer bed with spaced generally circular pockets forsupporting eggs in upright position.

.5. In a carrier for eggs, a plurality of flat plates flexibly securedtogether in parallel adjacent relation, said plates having recesses intheir side edge portions forming egg receiving pockets between the edgesof adjacent plates, said pockets having spaced arcuate egg engaging wallportions and intermediate recesses providing passages between the eggand the walls of its receiving pocket and said plates having alongitudinal series of additional openings alternately disposedrelative-to said egg receiving pockets.

6. Ina carrier for eggs, a plurality of flat elongated plates flexiblysecured at their ends in parallel substantially abutting relation, eachof said plates having a series of spaced out out portions formingrecesses in each longitudinal edge, the recesses of abutting edgesregistering and forming a series of egg pockets between adjacent plates.I

7. In a carrier for eggs, a pair of spaced conveyer chains, a pluralityof plates, each plate having cut-away portions forming a series ofrecesses along each side edge, said plates extending between saidchains, and secured at each end to alternate links of one of said chainsand disposed in parallel, substantially abutting relation with therecesses of adjoining plates registering to form a substantiallycontinuous flat conveyer bed with a row of spaced egg-supporting pocketsbetween each plate and the adjoining plate on each side thereof.

JOB L. G. MEYER.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 1,950,621. October 17, 1953.

Job L. G. Meyer.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: In thedrawing, Figs. 1 and 2, should appear as shown below instead of as shownin the patentand that the said Letters Patent should be read with thiscorrection therein that the same may conform to the record of the casein the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 14th day of November, A.D. 1933.

F. M. Hopkins (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

